Online assessment in Moodle: A framework for supporting our students

With the increased intake of students at many higher education institutions, the teaching, learning and assessment of large groups is one of the biggest challenges facing educators. Appropriate online assessment may address some of the challenges faced in the teaching and learning setting. In this paper, the experiences of 392 mathematics students, undertaking their assessments via Moodle at a University in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, are described. Student experiences informed the design of a supportive-environmental framework for online assessment.The theoretical lens for this research study is framed by mastery learning, student experience and online assessment. The research reported on in this paper highlights one aspect of the project: the third phase of the action-research cycle, namely, to observe the implementation of online assessment.Examples from two blended-learning Moodle courses highlight some of the experienced difficulties and successes. The lessons learnt informed the online-assessment design and implementation to introduce supportive environments for online assessment. The knowledge gained from this study culminated in a 4-Pillar Supportive-Online Assessment Framework for Blended-Learning environments, which could contribute to an improvement in online-assessment practices.

Mountain Wave Propagation under Transient Tropospheric Forcing: A DEEPWAVE Case Study

The impact of transient tropospheric forcing on the deep vertical mountain wave propagation is investigated by a unique combination of in-situ and remote-sensing observations and numerical modeling. The temporal evolution of the upstream low-level wind follows approximately a cos2 shape and was controlled by a migrating trough and connected fronts. Our case study reveals the importance of the time-varying propagation conditions in the upper troposphere, lower stratosphere (UTLS). Upper-tropospheric stability, the wind profile as well as the tropopause strength affected the observed and simulated wave response in the UTLS. Leg-integrated along-track momentum fluxes (−MFtrack) and amplitudes of vertical displacements of air parcels in the UTLS reached up to 130 kN m−1 and 1500 m, respectively. Their maxima were phase-shifted to the maximum low-level forcing by ≈ 8 h. Small-scale waves (λx ≈ 20–30 km) were continuously forced and their flux values depended on wave attenuation by breaking and reflection in the UTLS region

Mountain-Wave Propagation under Transient Tropospheric Forcing: A DEEPWAVE Case Study

The impact of transient tropospheric forcing on the deep vertical mountain-wave propagation is investigated by a unique combination of in situ and remote sensing observations and numerical modeling. The temporal evolution of the upstream low-level wind follows approximately a cos2 shape and was controlled by a migrating trough and connected fronts. Our case study reveals the importance of the time-varying propagation conditions in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS). Upper-tropospheric stability, the wind profile, and the tropopause strength affected the observed and simulated wave response in the UTLS. Leg-integrated along-track momentum fluxes (-MFtrack) and amplitudes of vertical displacements of air parcels in the UTLS reached up to 130 kN m-1 and 1500 m, respectively. Their maxima were phase shifted to the maximum low-level forcing by ≈8 h. Small-scale waves (λx ≈ 20 - 30 km) were continuously forced, and their flux values depended on wave attenuation by breaking and reflection in the UTLS region. Only maximum flow over the envelope of the mountain range favored the excitation of longer waves that propagated deeply into the mesosphere. Their long propagation time caused a retarded enhancement of observed mesospheric gravity wave activity about 12–15 h after their observation in the UTLS. For the UTLS, we further compared observed and simulated MFtrack with fluxes of 2D quasi-steady runs. UTLS momentum fluxes seem to be reproducible by individual quasi-steady 2D runs, except for the flux enhancement during the early decelerating forcing phase

Identification of molecular markers of delayed graft function based on the regulation of biological ageing

Introduction: Delayed graft function is a prevalent clinical problem in renal transplantation for which there is no objective system to predict occurrence in advance. It can result in a significant increase in the necessity for hospitalisation post-transplant and is a significant risk factor for other post-transplant complications. Methodology: The importance of microRNAs (miRNAs), a specific subclass of small RNA, have been clearly demonstrated to influence many pathways in health and disease. To investigate the influence of miRNAs on renal allograft performance post-transplant, the expression of a panel of miRNAs in pre-transplant renal biopsies was measured using qPCR. Expression was then related to clinical parameters and outcomes in two independent renal transplant cohorts. Results: Here we demonstrate, in two independent cohorts of pre-implantation human renal allograft biopsies, that a novel pre-transplant renal performance scoring system (GRPSS), can determine the occurrence of DGF with a high sensitivity (>90%) and specificity (>60%) for donor allografts pre-transplant, using just three senescence associated microRNAs combined with donor age and type of organ donation. Conclusion: These results demonstrate a relationship between pre-transplant microRNA expression levels, cellular biological ageing pathways and clinical outcomes for renal transplantation. They provide for a simple, rapid quantitative molecular pre-transplant assay to determine post-transplant allograft function and scope for future intervention. Furthermore, these results demonstrate the involvement of senescence pathways in ischaemic injury during the organ transplantation process and an indication of accelerated bio-ageing as a consequence of both warm and cold ischaemia

Machine-assisted cultivation and analysis of biofilms

Biofilms are the natural form of life of the majority of microorganisms. These multispecies consortia are intensively studied not only for their effects on health and environment but also because they have an enormous potential as tools for biotechnological processes. Further exploration and exploitation of these complex systems will benefit from technical solutions that enable integrated, machine-assisted cultivation and analysis. We here introduce a microfluidic platform, where readily available microfluidic chips are connected by automated liquid handling with analysis instrumentation, such as fluorescence detection, microscopy, chromatography and optical coherence tomography. The system is operable under oxic and anoxic conditions, allowing for different gases and nutrients as feeding sources and it offers high spatiotemporal resolution in the analysis of metabolites and biofilm composition. We demonstrate the platform’s performance by monitoring the productivity of biofilms as well as the spatial organization of two bacterial species in a co-culture, which is driven by chemical gradients along the microfluidic channel

Empagliflozin inhibits Na + /H + exchanger activity in human atrial cardiomyocytes

Aims Recent clinical trials have proven gliflozins to be cardioprotective in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. However, the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. A potential inhibition of cardiac Na+/H(+)exchanger 1 (NHE1) has been suggested in animal models. We investigated the effect of empagliflozin on NHE1 activity in human atrial cardiomyocytes. Methods and results Expression of NHE1 was assessed in human atrial and ventricular tissue via western blotting. NHE activity was measured as the maximal slope of pH recovery after NH(4)(+)pulse in isolated carboxy-seminaphtarhodafluor 1 (SNARF1)-acetoxymethylester-loaded murine ventricular and human atrial cardiomyocytes. NHE1 is abundantly expressed in human atrial and ventricular tissue. Interestingly, compared with patients without heart failure (HF), atrial NHE1 expression was significantly increased in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation. The largest increase in atrial and ventricular NHE1 expression, however, was observed in patients with end-stage HF undergoing heart transplantation. Importantly, acute exposure to empagliflozin (1 mu mol/L, 10 min) significantly inhibited NHE activity to a similar extent in human atrial myocytes and mouse ventricular myocytes. This inhibition was also achieved by incubation with the well-described selective NHE inhibitor cariporide (10 mu mol/L, 10 min). Conclusions This is the first study systematically analysing NHE1 expression in human atrial and ventricular myocardium of HF patients. We show that empagliflozin inhibits NHE in human cardiomyocytes. The extent of NHE inhibition was comparable with cariporide and may potentially contribute to the improved outcome of patients in clinical trials

Patient centered guidelines for the laboratory diagnosis of Gaucher disease type 1

Gaucher disease (GD) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder due to the deficient activity of the acid beta-glucosidase (GCase) enzyme, resulting in the progressive lysosomal accumulation of glucosylceramide (GlcCer) and its deacylated derivate, glucosylsphingosine (GlcSph). GCase is encoded by the GBA1 gene, located on chromosome 1q21 16 kb upstream from a highly homologous pseudogene. To date, more than 400 GBA1 pathogenic variants have been reported, many of them derived from recombination events between the gene and the pseudogene. In the last years, the increased access to new technologies has led to an exponential growth in the number of diagnostic laboratories offering GD testing. However, both biochemical and genetic diagnosis of GD are challenging and to date no specific evidence-based guidelines for the laboratory diagnosis of GD have been published. The objective of the guidelines presented here is to provide evidence-based recommendations for the technical implementation and interpretation of biochemical and genetic testing for the diagnosis of GD to ensure a timely and accurate diagnosis for patients with GD worldwide. The guidelines have been developed by members of the Diagnostic Working group of the International Working Group of Gaucher Disease (IWGGD), a non-profit network established to promote clinical and basic research into GD for the ultimate purpose of improving the lives of patients with this disease. One of the goals of the IWGGD is to support equitable access to diagnosis of GD and to standardize procedures to ensure an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, a guideline development group consisting of biochemists and geneticists working in the field of GD diagnosis was established and a list of topics to be discussed was selected. In these guidelines, twenty recommendations are provided based on information gathered through a systematic review of the literature and two different diagnostic algorithms are presented, considering the geographical differences in the access to diagnostic services. Besides, several gaps in the current diagnostic workflow were identified and actions to fulfill them were taken within the IWGGD. We believe that the implementation of recommendations provided in these guidelines will promote an equitable, timely and accurate diagnosis for patients with GD worldwide.Instituto de Estudios Inmunológicos y Fisiopatológico